£35k 2 car garage

[bobsavage789]

I feel like this (or similar) has been done already recently, but I don’t seem able to find it…

Like many petrolheads, I’m forever thinking about what to get next (in my case it’s likely to be 2 years or so), and I’m currently thinking of going back to two cars.

Car 1 requirements:

- daily runaround
- new enough for modern creature comforts (e.g. CarPlay, electric seats)
- rear doors (for school runs)
- either comfortable or fun to drive (ideally a master of one of these, rather than a “Jack of all trades” thing)
- low running costs
- reliable
- hatchback or small saloon
- manual or automatic

Initial thoughts: Yaris; Fiesta ST


Car 2 requirements:

- weekend/“fun” car
- must be an event to drive
- good noise
- good driving dynamics is a bonus, but not a priority
- convertible (or coupé with a sunroof)
- not ridiculously expensive to run and maintain
- able to live outside (I’ve no garage or space for car shelter)
- manual or automatic (though I’d like one of these two to be automatic)

Initial thoughts: XKR; Abarth 124 (is this enough of an event..?)

Budget is around £35k for both.

Don’t expect any outcomes any time soon!

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Merci d’avance!

[Over over under steer]

Mk7.5 Golf GTI for c.£15k

Best Porsche Boxster you can get with the balance. Should get you a 987.2 or 981.

[Lefty]

Over over under steer said:

Mk7.5 Golf GTI for c.£15k

Best Porsche Boxster you can get with the balance. Should get you a 987.2 or 981.

I was going to suggest a Golf GTi and a Chimaera/Griffith or an S1 Elise.

[bobsavage789]

Over over under steer said:

Mk7.5 Golf GTI for c.£15k

Best Porsche Boxster you can get with the balance. Should get you a 987.2 or 981.

A very good opening suggestion: Golf GTIs weren’t showing up when I had “CarPlay” as a key word on my filters for some reason…

981s are currently over budget, and I’m a bit wary of 987s and bore score/bearing issues etc…

[bobsavage789]

Lefty said:

Over over under steer said:

Mk7.5 Golf GTI for c.£15k

Best Porsche Boxster you can get with the balance. Should get you a 987.2 or 981.

I was going to suggest a Golf GTi and a Chimaera/Griffith or an S1 Elise.

I’d considered a TVR and a Lotus, but don’t think they’d hold up well without shelter.

Having previously owned a Tuscan, I also think the upkeep on a TVR would perhaps be too much time/money…

[CSR Performance]

Can you squeeze an extra £1-2k?

My vote would be:
£12k on a Mk7 Golf GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...

£24k on a 997 Carrera.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129...

[John D.]

CSR Performance said:

Can you squeeze an extra £1-2k?

My vote would be:
£12k on a Mk7 Golf GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...

£24k on a 997 Carrera.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129...

I'd just run a 911 and make the kids hop in the back.

[Belle427]

Golf GTI/R and maybe something like a Jag F Type will be just in budget.
I would probably buy a cheaper daily to get into the V8 Jag.
XKR is a good shout though, I just prefer the F type looks slightly.

[Venisonpie]

CSR Performance said:

Can you squeeze an extra £1-2k?

My vote would be:
£12k on a Mk7 Golf GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...

£24k on a 997 Carrera.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129...

That Carrera looks very tidy but the interior is bloody depressing.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Do what my partner and I have, Freelander 2 for daily duties, X150 generation XK for the highdays and holidays. Both reliable, both look good turning up to anything anywhere.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

If you’re worried about bore score I’d run a mile from a 997.1. FWIW 987.2 Boxsters aren’t affected (or 997.2).

[bobsavage789]

CSR Performance said:

Can you squeeze an extra £1-2k?

My vote would be:
£12k on a Mk7 Golf GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...

£24k on a 997 Carrera.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129...

Possibly, but that would then eat into my bork fund!

If I were to risk a 997.1, I think I’d want the convertible (yes, I know…)

[drgoatboy]

Kia ceed GT
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025122487...


And an f+type
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025120884...

Or a z4

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025102874...

Edit to add V8 Mustang
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025081353...



(Note I didn't spend much time looking for greater examples so there is undoubtedly better cars out there)

[ZX10R NIN]

2019 Kia Rio GT Line, ticks every box as a daily & in a couple of years time you'll be looking at a 2021/22 model still in warranty:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510177...

Lotus Evora:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508105...

[keo]

A Yaris or Corolla hybrid as the practical car.

Elise/ Caterham as the fun car.

[bobsavage789]

Vsix and Vtec said:

Do what my partner and I have, Freelander 2 for daily duties, X150 generation XK for the highdays and holidays. Both reliable, both look good turning up to anything anywhere.

Freelander is a bit older and bigger than I’d like.

Glad the XK is proving reliable though!

[bobsavage789]

keo said:

A Yaris or Corolla hybrid as the practical car.

Elise/ Caterham as the fun car.

I’d love an Elise, but have read that they don’t cope with being left outside very well…

[keo]

bobsavage789 said:

I d love an Elise, but have read that they don t cope with being left outside very well

Sorry, missed that part. With a hardtop fitted they might be ok. I had a VX220T years ago and it lives outside with a hardtop. It was fine. Granted though it was only 6 weeks before I parked it in a poor old woman’s front garden… so I have no idea how they do outside for the long term

[bobsavage789]

My current front running pair is this:

Mini Cooper S 5 door
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2026011190...

987.2 Boxster S PDK
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025082858...

Just under £33k all in and tick all the boxes (unless I’m missing something!)

[Patrick Bateman]

I'd go Mk.7 GTI and an F-type.

The XKR fits the bill as well but I suspect the F-type is perhaps more of an event.